Archbishop Holgate’s, York, awarded for young carers support

Archbishop Holgate’s School in Hull Road has been presented with the Young Carers in Schools award for the way it champions and supports young people with their education while they are also juggling caring responsibilities.

The accolade is part of the Young Carers in School programme run by charities The Children’s Society and Carers Trust.

Archbishop Holgate’s, York, awarded for young carers support.

The recognition follows recent praise in the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection which recognised its high aspirations, ambitious curriculum and inclusive ethos.

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The programme provides primary and secondary schools across England with step-by-step guidance for teachers, leaders and non-teaching staff to gain the practical tools they need to help young carers.

Archbishop Holgate’s Young Carers Lead, Samantha Stead, said: “Receiving the Young Carers in Schools Award is a momentous milestone for us.

“Young carers often face invisible barriers to their education, balancing homework and exams with the emotional and physical demands of supporting a loved one. Our goal has always been to ensure that no young person has to choose between their education and their family.”

Archbishop Holgate’s School won the award by demonstrating how it supports young carers. This includes dedicated homework clubs and accessible drop-in sessions.

By working in close partnership with the York Carers Centre, the school actively gathers the insights and voices of identified young carers to directly shape and improve its in-school support systems.

The school also prioritises staff development, equipping them with the tools to recognise early signs of young carers and ensuring every student receives the timely, targeted support they deserve.

Headteacher, Lucie Pond, said: “Our young carers show remarkable resilience, compassion and maturity every day. This recognition celebrates not only the work of our staff, but the incredible young people we are privileged to support.”

Young carers are children under 18 who are responsible for the care of a family member who, due to illness, disability, mental health condition or addiction, can’t manage without their support.

Nathaniel in Year 10 said: “As a young carer, school supports me by being more flexible with homework, offering more support whenever I need it, and generally supporting me and other young carers with general life.

“We also have monthly drop-ins where we can socialise with other young carers getting to know more people like us.”

Research from the Carers Trust found that 40 per cent of young carers do not feel they receive enough support to balance education and caring responsibilities. Separate research by The Children’s Society found young carers achieve, on average, one GCSE grade lower than their peers and often report lower levels of confidence and wellbeing.

Samantha Stead added “While we are incredibly proud of this recognition, our work doesn’t stop here. We will continue to evolve our support systems so that every young carer at our school feels seen, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential.”